Apparatus for making undercut ware



Nov. 29, 1949 w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR MAKING UNDERCUT WARE 5 She'ets-Sheet l Original Filed March 29, 1935 MM Rd WM WM I-M HTTOENH J Nov. 29, 1949 w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR MAKING UNDERCUT WARE I Original Filed March 29, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. WZZZL'am J Miler:

Nov. 29 1949 w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR MAKING uNbER'cuT WARE Original Filed March 29, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. William J Millen 62 ofthe machine.

Patented Nov. 29, 1949 1,489,797 APPARATUS FOR MAKING UNDERCUT WARE William J. Miller, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Miller Pottery Engineering Company, Swissvale, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Originalapplication March 29, 1935, Serial No.

8 Claims.

1 v This application'ls' a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 13,683 filed March 29, 1935, now Patent No. 2,452,858;-November 2, 1948 It has to do with apparatus -.for making undercut pottery ware; 1 1 l s 'In the drawingszq: WI T Figure 1 isva plan ;view; of a partible mold for undercut ware. l

Figure 2'is a sectional-view taken on the line 22 f Figure .1 t t Figure, 331s a view; lvertical section and side elevation of a mold actuating assembly.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section plan view taken on line 4-4of'Figure-3;

Figure 5is a view infront elevation of a tool or attachment carriage'towhich undercutting tools are applied. a, a

Figure 6 is a viewof the structure of Figure 5 in side elevation, 1 Figure 7 is an enlarged sectionalview taken on line l -J of Figure I 1 l Figure 8 is a detail showing a friction drive.

Figures 1 and '2"illu strate"a partible mold for undercut ware, by the numeral 59, .the mold being formed in sections 59a which are mounted to shift or slideradially on a base 59b',which in turn is mounted to have relative angular shifting or sliding movement, with a main base 590 adapted togseat on the rotatable mold-actuating chucks Each section is formed with ngential slot 59d. and--the base 5911 with a i c responding number of arcuate slots 59c, dowels 59T projecting upwardly through both slots intoea'ch being threaded intothermainbase. 59c and section 59a. The base 59b'is *formedwith a central boss-having aporousuinsert 59g secured thereon;--which forms-the bottom of the mold and guide pins"-59h'=.projecting radially in into-each section; which serve to guide theref and "accurately position 'the:,:sections1 during the opening vLand closing operations.- T:he'chuck is provided with a resilientlyamounted mold-engagingandcentering pin til, see'Flgures 2 and "3. The base 590 of themold '53 is recessed "at a pre--'v determined point,; so that when the rotating:

I a r r with said recess and effect a positive engagement of thechuck with the mold base. The tray iig Figure2) is also providedwith an adjustable, resiliently mounted pin 6i adaptedto engage in a bore 59i; in thebase 5% whenthe-rotatingchuck 62 1owers-the mold onto thetray} It will-be notedthatlthe passagesfln and; 54m serve in sthisi instance for admit e n u r t tiett'f 'Y' mee e Divided and this application her 3, 194-5, Serial No. 626,456 a to lift the moldfromthetray, said Novemcavities 597 5975, pectively, I formed in.

the porous mold body and base insert 599.

For opening and closing thisform of partible mold, it is preferredio use the chuck assembly described in connection with Figure 3. The parts of this assembly maybe adjusted so that the chuck'lfiz will rise and elevate the mold from the tray and then rotate it clockwise in operative adjacency to the profile to shape the ware, and when the chuck lowers, rotation is stopped at a point which will bring the pin 61 in approximate registration with the bore 59i, the mold then centering on the tray. To open the mold, the chuck 62 is caused to rise and elevate the mold clear of the tray but not clearoi the pin 6| and then rotate counter-clockwise, which shifts the locking dowels 59 in the slots 59d and 59c and parts the mold sections to permit removalof the ware. It is preferred to lower the mold onto the tray in .open condition, to give ample time for cleaning and drying of the moldsections. Prior to charging the mold with clay, the chuck 62 is again elevated and lifts the mold clear of pin BI and rotates the mold clockwise to lock the mold sections together. I r

The mold actuating unit, Figure 3, comprises a casting or frame 63 provided with a bearing housing 63d for a spindle 64, that moves upwardly justably mounted on a cross shaft 626 having bearing in the side frame plates of the main frame of the apparatus, said cam actuating a lever 52 which is adjustably pivoted at one extremity, the pivoting assembly being supported from the frame 63, V pivotally secured. to a-pitman 62g, the pitman connecting with spindle 620 by means of a cross fork 62h, which is adjustably secured to said pitman by nuts 62i at its one extremity and forked into an annular groove in the spindle 620 at its opposite extremity. 'The pitman 62g projects through and is guided by extensions 62 of the frame 63,

adjustably threaded therein a contact screw 62k,

' the function of which will later become apparent.

Rotation may be imparted to the spindle 64 in the. unit illustrated in Figure 3 by means of cooperating friction gears 64 gand 64h, the gear My being adjustably secured on and at its opposite extremityf the upper end of said pitman having the spindle 64 and the gear 64h splined for longitudinal sliding movement on a cross shaft 542', which is preferably continuously driven, this shaft having bearing at opposite extremities in the side frame plates or beams.

The friction gears 64g and 64h are brought into intermittent contact by a lever and brake assembly comprising a brake shoe 647' formed with studs for mounting the shoe for vertical movement on the frame 63, a bell-crank lever 642 c pivoted or fulcrumed in said frame, a connecting rod 6 adapted to be adjustably pivoted at one extremity in any one of a plurality of holes formed in said bell crank lever and at its opposite extremity adjustably secured by nuts 54m on a pitman Ben, and cam-contacting arms 6 30 and 64p which are also adjustably secured on the pitman 6411. by nuts Mg and 641". and 64p are alternately raised and lowered by separate cams, not shown, which are adjustably mounted on the shaft 62c and have a contour substantially similar to the valve cams shown in Figure 4. The frame 63 is formed with guide brackets 64f for the pitman 6412.

To vary the speed of rotation of the chuck during reciprocation thereof, the splined friction gear Mn is provided with a grooved hub 64h, also splined on shaft 642', and a grooved cam 6M2 is adjustably secured on shaft 62c, motion being transmitted from the cam to said gear by a lever 64713, which is adjustably pivotally supported at its upper extremity on a bracket extension 63c of the frame 63, said lever extending downwardly, and adjacent cam 64M being provided with a pin 64M working in the groove of said cam, and at its lower extremity said lever connects with the grooved hub 64h by a link 64h5 and pin Mht working in the groove of said hub.

In operation, the chuck-reciprocating cam 62d and brake cams being adjusted to work in synchronism, when the chuck spindle and chuck elevate, the brake 657' is released, permitting spindle 64 to lower and thus lowering gear 64g into contact with the continuously rotating gear 64h and imparting rotation to the chuck; and when the chuck is lowered, brake 557' is raised and thus contacts with gear 649 and raises the spindle 64, thereby moving gears 66g and 6471. on shaft 642' out of contact and stopping rotation of the chuck.

To gradually accelerate and decelerate or vary the speed of rotation of the chuck during reciprocation thereof, the drum cam 64h2 and lever 6471.3 may be used to move the gear 64h relatively to gear 64g. Ordinarily, however, the brake, if properly adjusted, will operate to effect gradual contact and release of the gears 64g and 64h and provide for smooth operation of the chuck 62.

Super and sub-atmospheric pressure and other mediums may be applied to the molds through the chuck for various fabricating operations, the passages 62a and 621) (Figure 3) extending down into the chuck spindle 620 as shown, and opening out into annular registering air grooves 62a and 622) formed in a hood 76 having a working fit around said spindle and adjustably supported on the frame 63 by a thread rod 76a, hose nipples 62:12 and 62172 being threaded into the hood l and communicating with said grooves. A further communicating passage opening out in the bottom of the chuck is provided by a bore H in the screw 620', the interior of the spindle 620 being hollow, thus forming a chamber Ha, and the hood having a further groove 6 lb in communication with said chamber, a hose nipple 'Hc These arms $40.

being threaded into the hood l0 and communicating with said groove. Where the passages 62a, 62b and 'H open out into the chuck 62, resilient sealing and cushioning pads 621 are adjustably threaded into said chuck.

The fabricating tools 90 are mounted on a standard form of carriage assembly substantially similar to that illustrated in Figure 5 and 6, for

the purpose of giving them the desired movements relatively to the ware on which they are to perform.

The frame 85a shown as of rectangular shape is mounted to have a vertical sliding fit on posts 85, nuts 85b being threaded on the lower extremities of said posts to adjustably limit the lower most point of travel of said frame. The frame 85a is formed with a bracket 850, which is bored to receive a pivot 'bolt 8511, which is adjustably secured by nut 85d, a lever 85c being pivoted at one extremity in said bolt and at its opposite extremity adjustably and pivotally supported from a post 85), which also depends from and is secured in the top plate. This lever 85c is provided with a cam roller 85c adapted for contact with various types of frame-actuating cams shaped in accordance with the work involved and which are mounted on one of the cross shafts a, or if the variable speed assembly is used, on the sleeve 68 (Figure 6), these cams being shown in connection with the various attachments hereinafter described.

The lower portion of the frame a is formed with a dove-tail slot or groove in which a bar 85g is mounted to have a horizontal sliding fit, the

' bar at the left as viewed in Figure 5 being formed with a vertical guide bracket 85h having a central slot or track 8577.. A lever 852 provided with a cam roller 852'! is pivotally and adjustably supported at its upper extremity from a post 857, and at its lower extremity said lever is provided with a pin 851'2 adapted to have a working fit in said track 8572'. As in the case of lever 85c, the cams for the lever 852' are given the required contour in accordance with the work involved and are mounted on one of the cross shafts 89a. or sleeve 68, each attachment generally requiring a particular contoured cam which is illustrated in connection with the attachment.

The bar 85g is slotted at 85k, a pin 85k being secured in the frame 85a, a compression spring 85Ic2 being mounted to abut at opposite ends, respectively, against said pin and the bar 859. The bar 85g is also provided with a screw bracket 851 in which a contact screw 85m is mounted, which serves to adjustably limit the movement of bar 859 in one direction independently of its cam travel or reverse movement. The screw bracket 851 is adapted to be attached at either end of bar 859 and the spring 85lc2 at either end of slot 85k, to conform to the positive direction of movement of the cam lever 851'.

It will be seen that when levers 85c and 851 are oscillated, the frame 85a reciprocates vertically and the bar 859 laterally, the bar deriving its vertical movement from said frame. The frame is provided with screws 8511 and 850 adapted to be adjusted in contact with the posts 85 and frame 85a in the event the actuating cams are to be disconnected and the frame and bar set in rigid adjusted position.

An attachment and tool-mounting turret disk 86 is supported from the slide bar 859 by means of a hanger bracket 86a, said bracket being formed with projecting hub portions 85a, and

75 86112, see Figure 7, and is secured to the bar 85 by' screws' 86:13, see Figure 6,- thedisk 86 being rotatably mounted on the hubs 86a and prevented from lateral displacement by a ring 8604i A shaft 861) extends-through and has bearing in the projecting hubs of bracket 86a, this shaft functioning in a manner which will later become apparent. Ihe disk may be rotated intermittently in one direction or oscillated, the detents Mg and Slibeing housed, respectively, in a gear BBc-and the bracket' 86a and adapted to register in detent or latch notches 8lg' and spotting notches Blif formed in one side of said disk 86,there being four or each of said notches in the present instance. The gear 860 is mounted to rotate free on the'bracket hub 86a and the gear are in continual mesh with the teeth 86d of a rack 86d, the latter being slidably'dove-tailedinto a groove formed in the bracket 86a, see Figure '7, and terminating a T-head 86112, see Fig ur 5 'which is formed with a track 86413. The messed is actuated by a bell-crank lever 86c, whichis' fulcrumed at 86c on a bracket 'extensiGn' SBeZ-formed on the frame 85a, the one extremity of; said lever 86c being provided with a pin iifieii which has'a sliding fit in the groove or{tra"ck 86113, while the opposite extremity of saidile'ver has pivoted thereto a connecting rod def-which extends through a guidebracket 8W3 and-terminates in a T-head 86f formed with a groove or track 86 2, said T-headcooperating w itha lever 86g pivotally supported at its upper extremity from a post 86h, which is secured in one'ofthetop frame plates, and at its lower extremity said'lever is provided witha pin 86g, hayingja slidin fit in the groove or tra Ighead' 86 Lever 88g is provided with a cam roller 86g2 adapted'to contact with a suitably shaped .ca m to be mounted on shaftiBlla, these cams alsobeinggenerally shown with the respecti ye attachments hereinafter described. are tractinglspring 86:14 is. secured at opposite ex-i tremities, respectively, to the T-head BfidZ and the bar'85g. i f

A screw .851 is shown'as threaded inthe bracket 86a,"s'ee"'Figure '7, this screw being adjusted against the turret disk 86 when it is desired to maintain said disk stationary with said bracket. A screw 867 is also shown threaded in the hub 86a2 of bracket 86a, and this screw 'may be ad justed a ainst i he. s aft B6122 wh n t. .is d s r d to maintain the latter stationary with .said bracket. 7

.The disk 86 is provided with a plurality of holes 815K101 attaching various fabricating tools and attachments, such as shaping tools, turning and finishing tools and transfer chucks, which will be described in connection with each respective fabricating operation.

Theshaft 86b may be driven by either a positive or friction drive, both forms of drive being shown in Figures 5 and 6 for the purposes of illustration.

A bevel gear 81 formed with a hub 81' is shown as adjustably secured on the shaft 85b, this gear meshing with a similar gear 81a secured on a stub shaft 81a which has bearing in the projecting extremity of a bracket arm 8fia5 formed as part of the bracket 86a. A bracket 81b is adjustably supported by a post 811) (Figure 6) from one of the top frame plates, and extends down and at its lower extremity is formed with a foot 81b2, a stub shaft 810 having bearing in said foot, this shaft formin part of a flexible coupling comprising a sleeve 81c and longitudinally grooved sli'aft'8'lc2 in spline-sliding engagement with said sleevef the lower extremity of shaft 8102 being coupled for universal movement with the stub shaft81a' on which gear 81a is secured. The stub shaft 810 of the flexible coupling has adju's'tably secured thereon a pinion gear 81d. If pinion 8141 is used, the drive is eifected by means era segmental gear 8'le formed on a lever 81c which is adjustably pivotally mounted on the bracket 8lb'"'and"provided with a cam roller 81e2 adapted to "contact with a cam to be mounted on shaft8lla or sleeve 68, and which may be given various contours in accordance with the rotation desired for shaft 86b. The lever 81c may be retracted by a spring 81 -Theprofile assemblies 90 are mounted directly on theturret-disk 86, there being attachments for four profiles shown, so that four different kinds of undercut ware may be shaped in succession. The profiles are adjustably secured to the disk 86 by slottingthddisk and profile atrigh't angles to receive attachingbolts, as at 90d.

I The profile 90 for undercut ware, see Figure 2,

is' provided with aresiliently mounted brim-'- forming ring Qfle having a bri-m-contacting porous for plasterdnsert QDf'threaded therein, an annular chamber 90g being formed at this point, said chamber being supplied through a duct 90g and hose nipple 9692 with a treating medium stares sub or superatmosphere or other fluid.

lffhe ring 90a is rotatably mounted in a bearing or -su'r'noorting ring 90h and held against displacement by pins 9071., so that the ring 90a mayrotatewith the mold while its supporting ring eameiimms relativelystationary, the hose nipple" 96g! being secured in the ring 9% and the latter formed-with an annular groove or chamber in registration with the supply duct 909. 9th is secured by threaded pins 9071.2 to a bracket SDL sp'rin'gs 907' being inserted over said latter pins-"toiprovide a resilient mounting for the assembly The bracket 9th is slotted at 90k for the se urr ig-pinsor bolts 'for the profile so that the;

profil and ring assembly have a relative lateral floating association.

It-will be noted that the ring Bile centers on the tapered top portionsof the sections 59a of the partible [mold 59 and clamps or braces the said sections' during the profiling operation.

When the profile is removed from the interior ofthe undercut ware, it is first moved toward the leftas viewed in Fig. 2 by cam ates' le'ver 852' and then elevated by cam :22, whichactuates lever 85c, while at the same time the'mold may be lowered. It will be understood,

however,-that cam 85e2 could be dispensedwith and the molds lowered sufficiently to c1ear the profile. .1

The" apparatus described herein is employed for the forming or jiggering of pottery articles made from plastic clay wherein the interior of the article is larger in diameter than the mouth such as, for instance,- a wide mouth jar having a globular body. The profile is formed with an edged profiling surface shaped to correspond with the vertical contour of the molding surface. It is introduced into the interior of the mold through the mouth thereof and is then moved in a plane perpendicular to the axis of mold rotation a given distance into jiggering position. Upon rotation of the mold, the lower offset portion of the profile tool forms the interior of the globular body portion of the ware and the straight portions of the tool thereabove form the neck or mouth zone of the article.

The ring- 851'3, which actu-"- It will be noted that the profile 90 does not require a trimmer in view of the ring 906 with its brim-contacting insert 90].

To ensure accurate positioning of the profile relatively to the molds and uniform thickness of the ware, a contact screw 62k may be adjustably mounted in a bracket Mk2 secured to the turret disk 86, said screw being adjusted to contact with screw 62k threaded into the top of the pitman 62g, Figure 3. When the mold and profile reach their approximate operative positions, the screw 62k and 62k contact and the profile moves a short distance in unison with the mold.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class specified, a mold chuck, means for raising and lowering the chuck, a rotatable turret thereabove, a plurality of profiles formed for making undercut ware mounted on said turret, means for rotating said turret to index the profiles successively with molds therebelow, and means for periodically shifting the turret in a horizontal plane to move each profile to an undercutting position and withdraw the same from said position at the termination of the undercutting operation.

'2. In apparatus of the class specified, a mold chuck, means for raising and lowering and rotating the chuck, a partable mold carried by the chuck to be opened and closed incident to movement of the chuck, a rotatable turret above the mold chuck, a plurality of profiles formed for making undercut ware mounted on said turret, means for rotating said turret to index the profiles in succession with molds therebelow, and means for periodically shifting the turret in a horizontal plane to move each tool, when inside a mold, to undercutting position and to withdraw the same from said position at the termination of the undercutting operation.

3. In apparatus of the class specified, a mold chuck, means for raising and lowering and rotating the chuck, a separable mold carried by the chuck, means for opening and closing the mold incident to movement of the chuck, a rotatable turret above said chuck, a plurality of profiles formed for making undercut ware mounted on said turret, means for rotating said turret to index the profiles, in succession, with molds therebelow, and means for periodically shifting the turret in a horizontal plane.

4. In apparatus of the class specified, a separable mold, a mold chuck for supporting said mold in a forming position, means for rotating said chuck and a pin carried by the chuck and engageable with the mold for opening and closing the mold incident to rotation of the chuck, a rotatable turret above said chuck, a plurality of profiles formed for making undercut ware mounted on said turret, means for rotating said turret to index the tools in succession with molds therebelow, and means for periodically shifting the turret in a horizontal plane to move each profile to an undercutting position.

5. In apparatus of the class specified, a mold formed for making undercut ware, a support for said mold, a rotatable turret above said support, an undercutting profile carried by said turret, means for rotating the turret to index the profile with a mold therebelow, means for shifting the turret in a horizontal plane to move the profile into undercutting position, and means for relatively moving the mold and the profile to perform a jiggering operation.

6. In apparatus of the class specified, a mold formed for making undercut ware, a mold lifter for supporting said mold, a rotatable turret adjacent said lifter, a profile tool formed for making undercut ware mounted on said turret, means for rotating said turret to index the tool with the mold on the lifter, means for shifting the turret in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the lifter to move the profile to an undercutting position, and means for relatively moving the profile and the mold to perform a jiggering operation.

7. In apparatus of the class specified, a mold formed for making undercut ware, a support for said mold, a rotatable turret above said support, an undercutting profile mounted on said turret, means for rotating said turret to index the profile with a mold therebelow, and cam actuated means for shifting the turret in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the mold support to move the tool to an undercutting position.

8. In apparatus of the class specified, a mold form-ed for making undercut ware, a support for said mold, a rotatable turret above said support, a profile formed for making undercut ware mounted on said turret, means for rotating said turret to index the profile with a mold therebelow, means for rotating said profile, and means for shifting the turret in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the mold support to move the tool to an undercutting position.

WILLIAM J. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 417,099 Shepard Dec. 10, 1889 942,238 Balsley Dec. 7, 1909 1,028,549 Crossley June 4, 1912 1,683,855 Andronowicz Sept. 11, 1928 1,769,529 Miller July 1, 1930 1,842,622 Miller Jan. 26, 1932 1,898,561 Miller Feb. 21, 1933 

